In our Learning Community, we focus on three major aspects of Israel Education: Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel), Medinat Yisrael (the modern state of Israel), and Am Yisrael (the Jewish people, both in Israel and in the diaspora). All of these aspects of Israel are complex, and we attempt to think critically from a place of love and respect. For those of us who have been to or lived in Israel, we know that there is a sense of awe and wonder that we feel deeply when we traverse the paths our ancestors explored.
We wanted to create that wonder and joy from Farmington Hills, so we set out to create a new space in our building. We envisioned a space that would engage children from birth through b’nai mitzvah age, with educational content, fine and gross motor skill development, areas for adults, and a theme: Israel. With a grant from the Hermelin Davidson Fund for Congregation Excellence, an anonymous matching donor, the Epstein Family Foundation, artwork by Ian Mendel, design support from Arica Goldis, and the expertise and muscle of volunteers led by Paul Goldsmith, we are well under way to an anticipated ribbon-cutting before Rosh Hashanah.
Evie and Hayley show the scale of our Jeep Tour climbing structure
Marlee, Maya, Frieda and Hayley try out the obstacle course
Maya demonstrates the climbing wall as she scales Masada
Marlee discovers pottery while Shoshanna and Tilly manage the marketplace
Melissa shows how cool it is to float in the “Dead Sea”
What can you do in this Immersive Israel Playscape?
- Climb Masada on our traverse climbing wall.
- Jump into our foam pit and “float” in the Dead Sea.
- Dig through sensory-friendly sand for pottery pieces and more.
- Shop in the Shuk (market) and practice using Israeli currency.
- Climb on a desert jeep (ages 2-6).
- Play soccer, Israel’s most popular sport.
- Try collaborative building in the kibbutz area: build a fort, create a Lego™ or Duplo™ village, and more.
- Explore Jewish values through small-group initiatives that utilize a balance beam, stepping stones, an agility ladder, and more.
- Leave a note in the Kotel
- Learn to cook Israeli foods (and more) in our brand-new kosher learning kitchen! Cooking classes and demonstrations will be part of our youth, teen, and adult offerings!
Are you excited yet? There are opportunities to support this project in multiple ways, ranging from a simple purchase on our Amazon wish list to naming opportunities. Come find Melissa Ser, Michael Wolf, or Paul Goldsmith next time you are in the building and we are happy to give you a tour.
Contribute to the Playscape by purchasing on our Amazon Wish List https://a.co/4xIkicW or make a tax-exempt donation through Adat Shalom’s website
Read about it in the Jewish News
